by Greg Seltzer for Soccer365

Kansas City Wizards flank man Michael Harrington is a man of many colors - and I'm not talking about the silver locks that suddenly showed up on top of his head several weeks back.

Depending on what day you show up to CommunityAmerica Ballpark to catch the Missouri Azzurri in action, the 22-year old could be stationed in defense or midfield, left wing or right.

Most notable for being a blue streak on the port side during an impressive 2008 rookie campaign that saw him notch three goals and four assists, Harrington has recently been content to run the right. Two weeks ago, he notched an assist from right midfield and served as right back in their most recent contest - all of which is fine by him.

"I think I can go either side," the North Carolina native told Soccer365. "I don't think it matters - left foot, right foot."

And if people thought he was an attack threat out of the back before, Harrington has some sad news for opposing center backs. "I'd say I'm stronger crossing the ball with my right foot," he said. "I'm actually kinda enjoying being on the right these days because I can whip balls into the box better."

Despite his versatile feel for the game, the Wizards shirt with a right back number (#2) still relates most to a young left back wearing red and white in North London.

"I'm and Arsenal fan, so I like Gael Clichy," admitted Harrington. "It's unbelievable how fast he is, and it's pretty impressive to watch him play."

The former North Carolina Tarheel star is, however, for now caught up in an MLS wing game he says is quickly becoming an asset to the league. Rates Harrington, "There's a lot of good young talent, guys with a lot of speed that can bring some excitement to the game."

With emerging threats like Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Colin Clark (Colorado), Sainey Nyassi (New England), Robbie Rogers (Columbus), John Thorrington (Chicago) joining veterans such as Justin Mapp (Chicago), Ronnie O'Brien (San Jose) and Khano Smith (New England) out wide, he may be right.

Still, he concedes there's a handful of weeks during the dead heat of July and August when the MLS fast lane has noticeably fewer green lights.

"It's a lot different (during the height of summer heat)," nodded Harrington. "There's three or four games there where I couldn't really play my complete game because I couldn't get forward as much as I'd want to, just because of the heat."

"When it gets cooler, it's a lot easier to make those runs." 

A temperature fact that matters a great deal to Harrington because he can take part more often in what he claims is the best thing about being a wingback: "The freedom to pick your spots when you come forward."

"If you're tired, stay back and defend," he stated, as if by code. "If you have that run in you, then you can get forward and get involved in the attack."

Unlike many youngsters making a name for themselves in MLS, the U.S. youth international seems in no great hurry to make the switch to Europe.

"It's a possibility," said Harrington, who spurned a Kaiserslautern reserve deal before signing with Kansas City as the third overall pick in the 2008 MLS SuperDraft. "I have a couple of years left (on my contract) here. I'm happy here in MLS, the league's growing. We'll see."

For now, the handyman is hunkering down with the backline for a while, eager to help his club make up a four-point deficit on the final MLS playoff spot, currently held by Chivas USA.

While sure to take advantage of dropping temperatures to stage his typical raids, Harrington is much more concerned right now with helping a K.C. defense that, after a strong start to the season, has suddenly leaked 12 goals in their last six games.

More rankling is the fact that many of those conceded strikes came either at the start or near the end of a period, or directly after a Wizards tally. While frustrated by these incidents, Harrington says it's all part of soccer.

"We haven't really been getting the bounces," he said. "We've just been really unlucky in those spots. Obviously, we have to do better to try and prevent that. Goals are gonna happen, it's a long season and you're gonna get scored on at all points of the game."

Whatever the cause for such lapses, Harrington made it clear no one should be pointing any fingers at Wizards keeper Kevin Hartman. "I think he's been big for us when we haven't done as well as we can," he declared. "He's kept us in a lot of games."

Now, he wants the field players to repay their netminder with some clean sheets - perhaps the easiest way for a team three games below break even to get back in the black over the final seven games of the season.

"I'm excited to be there to shore things up, start getting some shutouts," said the usually attack-minded Harrington. "I think at one point, we were leading the league in shutouts, but we haven't had one in a while."

He and the Wizards will get their next chance on Saturday when the league's top offense in Los Angeles comes to town - gentleman, start your engines.

Soccer365 reporter Greg Seltzer blogs daily over at No Short Corners.

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